Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn

22 reviews

blau_elmo's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A brilliant exploration of many converging themes, all centered around the fate of being black in Jamaica. A story of poverty, betrayal and struggle, focused on a main cast of different women whose lives are intertwined, each with a sharply distinct personality, but sharing in the fact that they are all prone to suffering by their sheer existence due to being poor and black in Jamaica.

It is a story of abuse, one that ends in abject despair and loneliness. Every character is detestable to a certain extent, so filled with vitriol and cunning, but none of them seem unreasonable or irredeemable. Dennis-Benn shapes their stories so clearly and precisely that each character's decisions, values and justifications for their vile actions are absolutely understandable.

An incredibly powerful story of something so real and revolting; a human drama of breathtaking proportions.

My favourite read of the year so far.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Lesbophobia, Rape, and Sexual content

Moderate: Animal death and Blood

Minor: Eating disorder

kittykels's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I'd recommend looking up content warnings before reading OR just being aware that this book tackles some difficult stuff. However, the story is gripping and beautifully told. The narrator was wonderful as well. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexism, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Dysphoria

Minor: Animal death, Outing, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, and Racial slurs

elizabethgreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Paraidise comes at a cost that is served by the locals. This book gives and honest look at upscale resorts being built by wealthy outsides and the effects it has on the people who live in the community.  It shows the struggles that comes with making ends meet and the stark differences the locals see from what the tourist see.

It was hard to read about the sex work that the main character performs in order to pay the bills and provide for her little sister. The love and hurt the main sister experiences is both inspiring and heart breaking at the same time.

There is a look into sexuality and the bigotry and hate the same sex couples experience. This might be trigger for some readers.  The discussions felt heartfelt and authentic. 

Its to say I enjoyed the book (because of how tough the subject matter is to read) but i thought it was well written and I thought the ending was well done.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Rape

kelisabeth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Murder, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Blood, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Animal cruelty, Homophobia, Grief, Biphobia, Sexism, Trafficking, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Classism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Self harm

jadenchimes06's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Self harm, Alcohol, Cursing, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Rape, Racism, and Violence

cthornhill's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is beautifully written and horrifyingly heartbreaking. It is an emotional breakwater and reading it feels like being swept up by a current and smashed against the sea wall repeatedly. The characters are so real, the story so believable and the imagery stunning but it is tough. I would recommend it to anyone strong enough to take it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual content

midnightmarauder's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Despite the colorful, light-hearted book cover and title, this novel is anything but.

Here Comes the Sun follows Margot, a woman living in the fictional town of River Bank, Jamaica. She lives in a shack with her mother, Delores, sister Thandi, and senile grandmother Merle. By day, she works the front desk of a hotel, but by night, she

doubles as a prostitute

, working to make a better life for both herself and her sister, Thandi. 

Her second occupation is not the only secret she hides, however; she is also in a romantic relationship with a woman named Verdene, the town's pariah. 

What I liked about the novel was that it covered many themes. Some of the main themes covered include colorism, generational trauma/curses, classism, gentrification, and lesbophobia. The central theme in the book seems to be generational curses and the effect it has on people in adulthood. 

Margot was born when Delores was fourteen years old, and

it is implied that she was conceived by rape

. This caused Delores to resent Margot her entire life, never showing her any love or affection. Later, when Margot was in her early teen years, Delores

sold her to men for money. Delores also stated that she did it to "fix her", because Margot had expressed an early attraction to Verdene.

This early trauma leads Margot into hypersexuality as an adult,

thus sprouting her career in prostitution

.

It is implied that Delores went through similar treatment at the hands of her mother, Merle. So, the generational curse continued to be passed down. 

Margot's overall goal is to make it to the top so that she can leave River Bank in the rearview, along with the trauma she faced growing up. But, the things she has to do to get there don't sit well with her, ultimately eating her up so much that she

ends up getting away from River Bank, but at the expense of the ones she loved

. 

Nicole Dennis-Benn did a wonderful job at developing the characters. Authors can sometimes make their protagonists either too flawed or not flawed enough. Nicole found the right mix for each character she created. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It was heartbreaking, yet kept me continuously flipping to the next page, anticipating what would happen next. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Colonisation, Misogyny, Abandonment, Lesbophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death

Minor: Outing

tinytrashqueen's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The cover is deceiving. This is probably one of the most hopeless and depressing books I've ever read. Also highly recommend checking content warnings for this one. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Classism, Grief, Misogyny, Animal death, Racism, and Trafficking

Moderate: Pedophilia

Minor: Drug use and Alcoholism

asphodel04's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Outing, Sexual content, Animal death, Classism, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Racism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Bullying, Sexual content, Abandonment, Death, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Excrement, Gaslighting, Genocide, Incest, Murder, Death of parent, and Hate crime

solaria's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK? 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Child abuse, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Bullying